Participatory Futures Research and Social Learning for Integrated Watershed Management

摘要

Watersheds encompass diverse social, economic, technological, and ecological systems that are interrelated in complex ways. Stakeholders in watersheds and the ecosystems that support them are intricately interconnected. Increasing acknowledgment of these interdependencies has been accompanied by widespread recognition that water management needs to become more integrated, adaptive, and participatory. But difficulties associated with stakeholder participation along with the uncertainty inherent to planning processes have hindered the implementation of Integrated Watershed Management since its conception. This chapter discusses the use of participatory futures research and social learning to actively explore watershed management issues from different perspectives and collectively set goals with diverse stakeholders. This interdisciplinary approach can improve the sustainability of management interventions and ultimately increase the longer term environmental security of watersheds. Whether it's for strategic learning within the water sector, or facilitating genuine participation for Integrated Watershed Management, futures research and social learning are advocated as valuable approaches to involving stakeholders from the framing of problems onwards.